Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump pledged to expand oil and gas drilling in remote areas of Alaska as a way to pay for Social Security benefits, a trade-off that is unlikely to pass muster with Congressional budget scorekeepers.
Trump, in a televised interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity Tuesday night, said that he would reverse a decision by President Joe Biden to cancel oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He said that would negate proposals by his Republican rivals — including former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley — to raise the Social Security eligibility age in order to keep the benefits programs solvent.
